Page 4 - Palm Sunday and Jerusalem (April 1st - 2012)
First, then He was saddened by their ignorance.
Second, they refused to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, their eyes were blind to the truth.
One of the things that happens to human beings when we reject the truth is that we become quite blind. The truth is often compared to a light in the Word of God. And when we receive it, we are receiving light to live as God intended. When we refuse the truth, we, in essence, have made the choice to walk on in darkness.
Jesus says here Verse 42 – “but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
Think about their blindness like this. Instead of seeing Jesus as He truly is; their Promised Messiah. I’ve often wondered why these men were so hard-hearted towards Jesus. Now I see why. They saw Him as the enemy. They had made up their mind and, sadly, there was no changing it.
You see truth is that had these Jewish leaders taken the time to follow the advice of one of their own, they would have at least had a basis for their decision. Here’s what Nicodemus, a Pharisee said to them on one occasion. John 7:50 “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) (51) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”
And it’s often true today that you can make your mind up about Jesus completely apart from what He says and teaches. And the effect is still the same; blindness. The things that will bring them the most peace and most satisfaction are hid from their eyes.
First, then He was saddened by their ignorance.
Second, they refused to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, their eyes were blind to the truth.
And fourth, they did not know the time of their visitation. Here’s the word from Jesus. Verse 44 – “…because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
A visitation is a time when God visits someone in order to inspect his or her character and reward them accordingly. It is also a time when God has given of Himself to someone in great care and protection. In His grace He had visited the Jews in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus had come into the world to bless and personally lead the nation of Israel. And these Jewish leaders did not know that God had even visited them (cf. Job 10:12).
This should have been a day of tremendous joy and blessing and true peace. Yet, it was on Palm Sunday that our LORD wept. He burst out in tears. And He wept loudly, showing us just how much God the Father loved us.
And Jesus had been deeply affected
One, by their ignorance.
Two, by their refusal to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, by their blinded eyes were blind to the truth.
And fourth, they did not know the time of their visitation.
My hope is that there is no one here who, like these Jewish leaders who is refusing to turn their hearts to Jesus Christ.
From this Sunday, Palm Sunday, within a week, Jesus would be nailed to a Roman Cross. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
You see, today is Palm Sunday. But it is also The day of salvation. At Calvary your sins became His sins. He took your sins on His body and paid the penalty for every one of them.
And so today, here’s what you can do about your sins. You can say these words to the LORD.
• “I Repent” = I change my mind about God, Christ, my sin, and God’s free gift of salvation.
• “I Believe” = I simply trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the One Who paid the entire penalty for my sins. And in believing, I make Him Lord over my entire life.
Today, will you receive Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Savior? If not, why not?
Second, they refused to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, their eyes were blind to the truth.
One of the things that happens to human beings when we reject the truth is that we become quite blind. The truth is often compared to a light in the Word of God. And when we receive it, we are receiving light to live as God intended. When we refuse the truth, we, in essence, have made the choice to walk on in darkness.
Jesus says here Verse 42 – “but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
Think about their blindness like this. Instead of seeing Jesus as He truly is; their Promised Messiah. I’ve often wondered why these men were so hard-hearted towards Jesus. Now I see why. They saw Him as the enemy. They had made up their mind and, sadly, there was no changing it.
You see truth is that had these Jewish leaders taken the time to follow the advice of one of their own, they would have at least had a basis for their decision. Here’s what Nicodemus, a Pharisee said to them on one occasion. John 7:50 “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) (51) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?”
And it’s often true today that you can make your mind up about Jesus completely apart from what He says and teaches. And the effect is still the same; blindness. The things that will bring them the most peace and most satisfaction are hid from their eyes.
First, then He was saddened by their ignorance.
Second, they refused to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, their eyes were blind to the truth.
And fourth, they did not know the time of their visitation. Here’s the word from Jesus. Verse 44 – “…because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
A visitation is a time when God visits someone in order to inspect his or her character and reward them accordingly. It is also a time when God has given of Himself to someone in great care and protection. In His grace He had visited the Jews in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus had come into the world to bless and personally lead the nation of Israel. And these Jewish leaders did not know that God had even visited them (cf. Job 10:12).
This should have been a day of tremendous joy and blessing and true peace. Yet, it was on Palm Sunday that our LORD wept. He burst out in tears. And He wept loudly, showing us just how much God the Father loved us.
And Jesus had been deeply affected
One, by their ignorance.
Two, by their refusal to believe that He was the One Who could bring them peace.
Third, by their blinded eyes were blind to the truth.
And fourth, they did not know the time of their visitation.
My hope is that there is no one here who, like these Jewish leaders who is refusing to turn their hearts to Jesus Christ.
From this Sunday, Palm Sunday, within a week, Jesus would be nailed to a Roman Cross. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
You see, today is Palm Sunday. But it is also The day of salvation. At Calvary your sins became His sins. He took your sins on His body and paid the penalty for every one of them.
And so today, here’s what you can do about your sins. You can say these words to the LORD.
• “I Repent” = I change my mind about God, Christ, my sin, and God’s free gift of salvation.
• “I Believe” = I simply trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the One Who paid the entire penalty for my sins. And in believing, I make Him Lord over my entire life.
Today, will you receive Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Savior? If not, why not?